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Kuki-Chin languages

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The Kuki-Chin languages (also called Kuki-Chin-Mizo, Kukish or South-Central Tibeto-Burman languages) are a branch of 50 or so Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in northeastern India, western Myanmar and southeastern Bangladesh. Most speakers of these languages are known as Mizo in Mizoram and Manipur. Also, as Kuki in Assamese and Bengali and as Chin in Burmese; some also identify as Zomi. Mizo is the most widely spoken of the Kuki-Chin languages. The Kuki-Chin language has official status in both Chin State and Mizoram as Chin and Mizo respectively.

Kuki-Chin is sometimes placed under Kuki-Chin-Naga, a geographical rather than linguistic grouping.

Most Kuki-Chin languages are spoken in and around Chin State, Myanmar, with some languages spoken in Sagaing Division, Magway Region and Rakhine State as well. Chin is official in the Chin State of (Myanmar). In Northeast India, many Northern Kuki-Chin languages are also spoken in Mizoram State and Manipur State of India, especially in Churachandpur District, Pherzawl District, Kangpokpi District, Senapati District. Northwestern Kuki-Chin languages are spoken mostly in Chandel District, Manipur. It has official status in Mizoram (India) as Mizo

Kuki-Chin is alternatively called South-Central Trans-Himalayan (or South Central Tibeto-Burman) by Konnerth (2018), because of negative connotations of the term "Kuki-Chin" for many speakers of languages in this group.


Table of contents

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1. Internal classification
• VanBik (2009)
• Peterson (2017)
2. See also

Internal classification

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The Karbi languages may be closely related to Kuki-Chin, but Thurgood (2003) and van Driem (2011) leave Karbi unclassified within Sino-Tibetan.

The Kuki-Chin branches listed below are from VanBik (2009), with the Northwestern branch added from Scott DeLancey, et al. (2015), and the Khomic branch (which has been split off from the Southern branch) from Peterson (2017).

Kuki-Chin

• Central: Mizo (Duhlian), Bawm (Sunthla and Panghawi), Falam (Hallam, Hauhulh, Simpi, Hualngo, Chorei), Tawr, Hmar, Hrangkhol, Biate (Biete), Hakha (Lai/Pawi, Mi-E, Zokhua), Pangkhua, Saihriem, Laizo/Tlaisun, Khualsim, Zanniat, Zahau
• Maraic: Mara (Tlosai {Siaha and Saikao}, Hawthai {Lyvaw, Sizo, and Lochei}, Hlaipao {Zyhno, Heima, and Lialai}), Zophei, Senthang, Zotung (Lungngo, Calthawn, Innmai), Lautu
• Northern: Suantak-Vaiphei, Zo (Zou), Paite, Tedim, Thado (Kuki), Gangte, Simte, Vaiphei, Sizang, Ralte, Ngawn
• Southern: Shö (Asho/Khyang, Chinbon), Thaiphum, Daai (Nitu), Mün, Yindu, Matu, Welaung (Rawngtu), Kaang, Laitu, Rungtu, Songlai, Sumtu
• Khomic: Khumi (Khumi proper and Khumi Awa), Mro, Rengmitca, etc.
• Northwestern: Monsang, Moyon, Lamkang, Aimol, Anal, Tarao, Koireng (Kolhreng), Chiru, Kom, Chothe, Purum, Kharam,

Darlong and Ranglong are unclassified Kuki-Chin language.

The recently discovered Sorbung language may be mixed language that could classify as either a Kuki-Chin or Tangkhul language (Mortenson & Keogh 2011).

Anu-Hkongso speakers self-identify as ethnic Chin people, although their language is closely related to Mru rather than to Kuki-Chin languages. The Mruic languages constitute a separate Tibeto-Burman branch, and are not part of Kuki-Chin.

VanBik (2009)

Kenneth VanBik's (2009:23) classified the Kuki-Chin languages based on shared sound changes (phonological innovations) from Proto-Kuki-Chin as follows.

Kuki-Chin

• Central: *k(h)r-, *p(h)r- > *t(h)r-; *k(h)l-, *p(h)l- > *t(h)l-; *y- > *z-
• Pangkhua?
• Lamtuk Thet: Lamtuk, Ruavan
• Lai
• Hakha: Hakha, Thantlang, Zokhua
• Falam: Bawm, Bualkhaw, Laizo, Lente, Khualsim, Khuangli, Sim, Tlaisun, Zanniat
• Mizo
• Mizo: Fanai, Hualngo, Lushai, Khiangte
• Hmar: Khosak, Thiek, Lawitlang, Khawbung, Darngawn, Lungtau, Leiri
• Maraic: *kr- > *ts-; *-?, *-r, *-l > -Ø; *-p, *-t, *-k > *-?; *?- > *s-
• Mara
• Tlosai
• Saikao
• Siaha
• Hlaipao
• Heima
• Lialai
• Vahapi/Zyhno
• HawThai
• Sizo
• Ngaphepi
• Sabyu
• Chapi
• Lyvaw
• Lochei
• Tisih
• Phybyu
• Lautu
• Hnaro
• Chawngthia
• Zophei
• Vytu
• Sate/Awsa
• Senthang
• Khuapi
• Surkhua
• Zotung *h- > *f-; *kr- > *r-; *khl- > *kh-, *l-; *c(^h)- > *t(^h)-/*s-; *y- > *z-/*z(^h)-; *w- > *v-
• Calthawng
• Innmai
• Lungngo/Tinpa
• Peripheral: *r- > *g-
• Northern: *?- > *ts-; *kl- > *tl-; *-r > *-k
• Thado/Kuki, Tedim, Khuangsai, Paite Vuite, Chiru
• Sizang, Guite, Vaiphei, Ralte,
• Southern (Southern Plains): *-r > *-y
• Khumi: Khomi, Wakung
• Cho-Asho
• Asho
• Cho: Matu; Chinpon; Daai, Nghmoye, Ngmuun, Mkaang

Peterson (2017)

David A. Peterson's (2017:206) internal classification of the Kuki-Chin languages is as follows.

Kuki-Chin

• Northwestern: Purum (Naga), Koireng, Monsang (Naga), etc.
• Central
• Core Central
• Maraic
• Peripheral
• Northeastern
• Khomic: Khami/Khumi, Mro-Khimi, Lemi, Rengmitca, etc.
• Southern
• Cho
• Daai''
• Hyow/Asho

Peterson's Northeastern branch corresponds to VanBik's Northern branch, while Peterson's Northwestern corresponds to the Old Kuki branch of earlier classifications.


See also

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• Lai languages
• Pau Cin Hau script
• Kuki-Chin Swadesh lists (Wiktionary)

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